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Drivers had to dig out the ice scrapers today. Christie Smith is out in the elements. (Published Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013)

What is a shortened work-week for many of us is starting out extremely cold here in the Bay Area.

Overnight temps dropped down into the 20s in the colder inland valleys with 30s and low 40s for the rest of us.

There were freeze warnings for Sonoma, Marin, and Napa counties and a frost advisory in Contra Costa County.

Frost on cars was a common site across the Bay Area, which meant lots of people had to search for something to scrape their windows clear.

Frosty & Dry Start to 2013

Our weather pattern short term looks mainly clear and cold. As winds ease overnight temps will dry dropping down into the 20s in the colder inland valleys with 30s and low 40s for the rest of the Bay Area. Daytime temps should climb mainly into the mid to mid 50s, though we may see some 60s for areas south of San Jose by Thursday

(Published Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013)

Daytime temps should climb mainly into the mid to mid 50s, though we may see some 60s for areas south of San Jose by Thursday.

Unlike December, where we had a very active, moisture rich jet stream aimed in on us, the current weather pattern to start January is looking much drier with high pressure taking a larger role in our weather.

This ridge will anchor itself primarily inland just to our east, but close enough to divert and weaken incoming storms, leaving us with a drier than average forecast.

Our next best chance for rain looks to be later on Saturday into Sunday as a cutoff low attempts to move closer to the Bay Area against this stronger ridge of high pressure.

Beyond that, early next week is also looking dry as high pressure "reigns" supreme.